Eurovision 2023: Liverpool the host city of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest

Friday, 07 October 2022

• Liverpool has been confirmed as the host city of the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest next year in the UK. 

  BBC and EBU have announced that Liverpool wil have the honor to write their name on the history book of Eurovision host cities, as they will hosting Eurovision 2023. 

  After EBU's decision to remove the contest from this year's winners, Ukraine, due to the lack of security cause of the war in the country and after appointing the UK as the next host country, among a long list of citeis , BBC shorlisted seven of them to continue in the biddind race. 

  Last week the game came down to two cities, with Glasgow and Liverpool into the last run of the bidding race before the finish line. After visits to both cities and a deliberation between BBC and EBU, Liverpool was the city selected to host the next competition on May 9, 11 and 13 at the M&S Bank Arena. The two semifinal will take place respectively on May 9 and 11 while the Grand final is set for Saturday, May 13, 2023.

   

  Eurovision Song Contest's Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl stated:

  Liverpool is the ideal place to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.

  The city is synonymous with music and Liverpool Arena exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a global event of this scale. We have been very impressed with the passion the city has shown in embracing the Contest and their inclusive ideas for placing last year’s winners, Ukraine, front and centre when thousands of fans visit next May. 

  This will be the first Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the UK in 25 years and, as we work with our Host Broadcaster, the BBC, to celebrate Ukraine’s victory, this unique production promises to be a very special one indeed.’

   

  In addition BBC officially stated: 

  Following interest from 20 cities across all four Nations of the UK, seven cities were initially shortlisted to host the competition next year. It was announced last week that two cities remained in the running to host the Song Contest: Glasgow and Liverpool.

  Both cities provided incredibly strong bids, led by their respective local authorities and including community and stakeholder support from within their cities and beyond. Each city proposed to reflect Ukrainian culture and music in their own unique way.

  A detailed assessment of the two cities has resulted the BBC and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) agreeing that that Liverpool will be the host city for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.

  Liverpool has a fantastic venue, a beautiful backdrop of a city with a rich history of music, and a cultural offer that puts Ukraine at the heart of next year’s Song Contest.

  The team at the Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region will be fantastic partners for the BBC in delivering the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest

  Liverpool the Eurovision 2023 host city

  

  Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of 498,042 in 2019, it is the tenth largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.24 mllion.

  In 2019, Liverpool was the fifth most visited UK city. It is noted for its culture, architecture and transport links. The city is closely associated with the arts, especially music; the popularity of the Beatles, widely regarded as the most influential band of all time. Liverpool is internationally known for music and is recognised by Guinness World Records as the World Capital City of Pop.Musicians from the city have produced 56 No. 1 singles, more than any other city in the world.

  Mathew Street Festival is an annual street festival that is one of the most important musical events in Liverpool's calendar. It is Europe's largest free music event and takes place every August.Other well established festivals in the city include Africa Oyé and Brazilica which are the UK's largest free African and Brazilian music festivals respectively.

  The venue: The 67th edition of the contest will be house at the M&S Bank Arena.There are numerous music venues located across the city, however the M&S Bank Arena is by far the largest. Liverpool Arena, known for sponsorship reasons as the M&S Bank Arena, and previously Echo Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the city centre of Liverpool, England. The venue hosts live music, comedy performances and sporting events, and forms part of Liverpool event campus ACC Liverpool – an interconnected arena, exhibition and convention centre.

  Opened in 2008 the 11,000-seat arena hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards the same year and since then has held host to world-renowned acts such as Andrea Bocelli, Beyoncé, Elton John, Kanye West, Kasabian, The Killers, Lady Gaga, Oasis, Pink, Rihanna, UB40.

  Transportation: Liverpool has an extensive local public transport network, which is managed by Merseytravel, and includes buses, trains and ferries. Additionally, the city also has an international airport and a major port, both of which provides links to locations outside the country.

  Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which is located in the south of the city, provides Liverpool with direct air connections across the United Kingdom and Europe. In 2008, the airport handled over 5.3 million passengers and today offers services to 68 destinations.

  Accommodation: Liverpool is the sixth most visited UK city and one of the 100 most visited cities in the world by international tourists. Therefore the city has numerous hotels and places for acccommodation.

  Liverpool has a thriving and varied nightlife, with the majority of the city's late-night bars, pubs, nightclubs, live music venues and comedy clubs being located in a number of distinct districts.

  Take a look at the city's promotional video: 

   

  News Source: BBC/EBU/Eurovision.tv

  Image: Photo source: visitliverpool.com